Diversity in the fire service is fostered when potential applicants see people who look like them

Theodore Roosevelt said, “Believe you can and you are halfway there.” » There are countless testimonies from women and people of color working in the fire service who say they needed a dose of “can” that came in the form of someone who looked like them in that role. They literally had to “see it” to believe they could “be it”.

Open hearts and minds
When it comes to forming our identity, it is extremely important to see people who look like us and who have succeeded at a certain rank or position. It's very stimulating and motivating. We can imagine ourselves in this same position and feel more confident in our ability to pursue this career path. Additionally, representation can also provide us with role models and mentors who can guide us on our journey and offer valuable advice and support. This not only helps us shape our own identity, but also creates a more diverse and inclusive workforce, which benefits the fire service and society as a whole.

The California State Firefighters' Association (CSFA) is paving the way for young people to see firefighters and emergency services professionals who look like them. CSFA supports first responder pathway programs throughout the state of California that introduce young people to the fire service. The CSFA team collaborates on girls empowerment camps, youth fire camps, fire exploration programs, community risk reduction (CRR) internships and more. The leadership team includes firefighters who not only look like the youth, but also share similar backgrounds and experiences. Young people can see individuals who have gone through difficult life experiences, made mistakes, and struggled, but still managed to obtain a rewarding career in the fire service.

Girls Empowerment Camps
Girls Empowerment Camps (for girls aged 12-19) supported by CSFA provide a safe and reassuring environment for girls to learn, grow and develop important life skills and competencies firefighting. Additionally, participants gain an understanding of what it takes to become a firefighter as well as what is required to pursue other career positions within the fire service.

The camps are open to all genders and non-binary people, but focus on girls' communication and learning styles in an environment in which they are encouraged to express themselves freely without fear of judgment.

To help girls feel safe and supported, they are encouraged to ask questions about any topic. The questions that have been asked are: How do you keep your hair tied up in a helmet? What do you do when you have your period?

The girls are divided into groups of different ages. Usually an older girl or a girl with some fire experience will be team leader.

Each station in the camp is supervised by a female firefighter. This way, if a camp participant doesn't think she can, for example, start a chainsaw, she can see a woman doing it safely.

Youth fire camps
Full-day youth fire camps are advertised to all genders and non-binary people. Age groups are determined among collaborating community partners and participating fire departments.

The camps provide a basic introduction to the fire service. Participants are familiarized with PPE, hose laying, ladder throwing and EMS skills. They receive a PowerPoint presentation on the different career paths available, including CRR, EMT, Dispatcher and Lifeguard.

To minimize the “death by PowerPoint” effect, for each slide, one person from each position (building firefighter, wildland firefighter, EMT, paramedic, CRR inspector, environmental safety inspector, arson investigator, dispatcher, rescuer , Emergency Management Coordinator and Administrative Support) talks about what this person is doing and answers questions. Participants always love dog handlers, whether it's arson, search and rescue, or emotional support.

The camps also serve as recruiting fairs for college pathway programs, ambulance companies, fire exploration and internship programs, and other organizations that give participants the tools and exact steps to follow for a career that interests them.